…three more suspects on the run
Four arrested for massive grave violations in Harare, three more suspect on the run
Shelly Guni
The Zimbabwe Republic Police have arrested four suspects linked to the desecration of approximately 380 graves at Restland Memorial Park in Rainham, a crime that spanned nearly a decade.
The development was confirmed by Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul NyathiThe accused, Edwin Muronzi, Tinashe Chiguma 32, Moses Gwanya 19, and Kudakwashe Humure 21, were apprehended for their involvement in tampering with graves and exhuming corpses between 2015 and 2024.
The development was confirmed by Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who revealed that the investigation began after Chiguma reported having visions of deceased individuals asking about the whereabouts of their remains.
His report implicated Muronzi, his employer, as well as Gwanya and Humure.
“Investigations by the Police revealed that Edwin Muronzi employed grave diggers at the cemetery including the suspects and others who are on the run and paid them between USD 15.00 and USD 20.00 per every grave. The grave diggers allegedly received instructions from Edwin Muronzi to dig the graves to pave way for new graves and subsequent burials,” ASS COM Nyathi said.
“In the process, they would come across human skeletal remains which they would pack in empty cement bags before wrapping them in clothes used during burial and disposing them in a trench or a dam behind the cemetery. They would also dispose off the traditional artifacts buried with the bodies,” he added.
The police are now working with forensic experts to identify the tampered graves, the exhumed bodies, and the disposal sites for the remains and artifacts.
Muronzi and his accomplices face charges of grave desecration and fraud.
The Police are also seeking the arrest of three suspects identified only as Kevy, Shumba, and Dread, who remain at large.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has appealed for public assistance in locating the suspects, urging anyone with information to contact their hotline or visit the nearest police station.